Acoustic guitarists Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo have become one of the most popular duos on the international music scene. Together they create unique, intense and beautiful arrangements of familiar and beloved songs. Their dynamic genre-spanning music has brought them to the world’s most illustrious venues, including the Sydney Opera House in Australia, The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, New York’s Lincoln Center and the world’s oldest indoor concert hall, Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, Italy.

Frank and Vinny have also been on National Public Radio and Television, featured previously on three popular shows, including Mountain Stage and Tommy Emmanuel and Friends. Their own PBS special, "Four Generations of Guitars," premiered in the 2014-15 season as part of the forthcoming 13 episode series "Music Gone Public," where they will be joined by special guests, guitarists Bucky Pizzarelli and Tommy Emmanuel along with violinist Joe Craven. They perform a range of styles, composers and works, including some from their recordings and performances with Madonna, Ringo Starr, Les Paul and others.

Frank describes the essence of their music in clear and straightforward terms: “There is nothing more satisfying to my ears than two guitars performing a beautiful song. As a duo we seek out beautiful songs and melodies spanning hundreds of years and try to create a uniquely fresh version.”

Drawing on more than 500 years of classic songs, Vignola and Raniolo create unique, sometimes intense and often quite beautiful arrangements of these familiar and beloved songs. Although both guitarists have been deeply influenced by many great jazz guitarists, they are not a jazz guitar duo. There is very little improvisation, but the sense of spontaneity, imagination and virtuosity that are hallmarks of jazz are fully present in their performances. A typical performance will take the audience on a tour of musical history. Bach, Mozart and Beethoven will be freely mixed with Ellington and Waller, blended with Gershwin and Carmichael, peppered with Bob Marley, Sting and Lennon/ McCartney, and spiced with Rodrigo and Lecuona.

Frank Vignola, born December 30th, 1965, is one of the most extraordinary guitarists performing before the public today. His stunning virtuosity has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world’s top musicians, including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, Wynton Marsalis, Tommy Emmanuel, the Boston Pops, the New York Pops, and guitar legend Les Paul, who named Vignole to his “Five Most Admired Guitarists List: for the Wall Street Journal. Vignola’s jaw- dropping technique explains why the new York Times deemed him “one of the brightest stars of the guitar”.

With over 1000 engagements in the last five years alone, Frank Vignola has become one of the most popular and sought after guitarists on the international music scene. His dynamic genre-spanning music has brought him to 14 countries on three continents – and still growing – performing in some of the world’s most illustrious venues, including the Sydney Opera House in Australia, Carnegie Hall, The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, New York’s Lincoln Center and the world’s oldest indoor concert hall, Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, Italy.

Often featured on National Public Radio, Frank Vignola has also become a familiar figure on Public Television, featured previously on three popular shows, including the heavily programmed Tommy Emmanuel and Friends. His own PBS special, “Four Generations of Guitar” produced by Peter Berkow, premieres in the 2015 season as part of the forthcoming 13 episode series “Music Gone Public”, where they will be joined by special guests, Bucky Pizzarelli, Joe Craven and Tommy Emmanuel.

Vignola has recorded over 30 CD’s, 7 DVD’s and has been a guest on hundreds of recordings. Vignola has written over 18 music books for Mel Bay Publications. He has also produced 15 full length video teaching courses for TrueFire for all levels. His on-line One on One private lessons and workshop courses continue to thrive with hundreds of enrolled students. He conducts clinics, masterclasses and workshops at Music Universities across the globe, most recently coaching guitar ensembles at The Juilliard School of Music in New York City.

Vinny Raniolo is a young star in the guitar world. As a touring guitar musician, performer, and educator, Vinny Raniolo is best known for his accompanying skills and is a very high demand rhythm guitarist. His dynamic playing has brought him to 14 countries on three continents – and still growing – having performed in some of the world’s most illustrious venues, including the Sydney Opera House in Australia, The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, New York’s Lincoln Center and the world’s oldest indoor concert hall, Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, Italy.

While keeping a busy touring schedule in a variety of musical settings, Vinny has also become a familiar figure on Public Television. Featured previously on three popular shows, including the heavily programmed Tommy Emmanuel and Friends, in Frank Vignola’s Four Generations of Guitar as the youngest generation in the lineage of jazz guitarists with veteran Bucky Pizzarelli and in the Music Gone Public series.

Recording credits include soundtracks for HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and Woody Allen’s film Café Society.